Dog Not Eating

Not eating in dogs is abnormal and may be a sign of
disease.   With your dog not eating, one has to look at a
broad variety of causes.  Dr. Sam discusses how this
symptom can be worked up diagnostically as well as possible
causes.

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Not Eating in Dogs

When a dog does not eat, it is often the first sign of illness.  
Causes of not eating in dogs include conditions that make
the act of eating painful, conditions that are painful after
eating, or conditions that make a dog nauseous.   In
addition, any other painful or debilitating condition may
cause a dog to not want to make the effort to eat.

Conditions that make the act of eating painful include
periodontal disease, a tooth root abscess, a foreign object
in the mouth, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), mouth
sores or cancer or other oral conditions.

Conditions that are painful after eating include stomach
ulcers, foreign body obstruction in the intestine (swallowing
a foreign object that becomes obstructed, etc), and gastritis.

Liver or kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, Addison’s disease
(a hormone disorder) and toxicities are all conditions that
can make a dog nauseous and therefore not want to eat.

Since not eating in dogs is such a non-specific symptom, a
thorough veterinarian examination is imperative.  From
there, blood work and x-rays may be indicated to find out
what is causing the dog to not be up to eating.

- Sam Meisler DVM

The statements or information on this website have not
been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.